be self-directed in creating personal purpose and vision, setting priorities, choosing ethical action, and creating their own knowledge;

cooperate and collaborate with others in working with and leading groups; interact positively in diverse settings; recognize the value and contributions of all individuals; and make positive contributions to their communities;

understand and use social, organizational, and technological systems; design, monitor, improve and correct performance within a system; and create viable products.

These desired student outcomes and practices will be fostered and nurtured in schools and classrooms with an environment in which:

adults assume instructional and ethical leadership to create efficient, effective environments perceived as safe, healthy, and equitable, where students are recognized as unique individuals capable of learning and independent thinking;

adults use varied and reliable teaching and evaluating procedures through relevant curricula;

adults enable students, families, and communities to work cooperatively to assume responsibility for the total educational experience;

adults engage in professional growth and training activities to effect continuous improvement in the system;

students are guided in their total physical, mental, and emotional development through activities which are student-centered and which focus on positive expectations and encourage intrinsic motivation.

Strategic Plan

In order to effectively accomplish our mission, a Strategic Plan was developed to act as a guide for current and future decisions.

District Technology Plan

About our district

The school district is the eighth largest in Florida and thirtieth largest in the United States. Polk County Public Schools has more than 150 schools. The projected student enrollment for 2014-2015 is more than 96,000 with a diverse student body. The district is the largest employer in Polk County with more than 13,000 employees. More than half of those are employed as teachers.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The School Board of Polk County, Florida, prohibits any and all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, genetic information, homelessness, disability or other basis prohibited by law in any of its programs, services, activities or employment. To file concerns, you may contact the Equity & Compliance Analyst in the Human Resource Services Division at (863) 534-0513 or P.O. Box 391 Bartow, Florida 33831.

Budget

The general fund portion of the 2014-2015 budget is $788.1 million. Approximately 79 cents of every dollar of the general fund goes to teaching, transporting and counseling students. Eighteen cents of every dollar goes to operating and maintaining places of learning. Three cents of every dollar goes to central and fiscal services.

National Honors

The school district's www.polk-fl.net Web site was voted third in a national contest selecting the best school district Web sites. The contest was coordinated by the Kansas-based All of E Solutions organization.

The district was the recipient of the College Board’s District of the Year Award for Advanced Placement Equity and Excellence in 2011.

Polk County Public Schools was a two-time recipient of the American School Board Journal’s Magna Award for our efforts to improve educational programs and provide access to digital learning tools.

The district was named among the Best Communities for Music Education as recognized by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation.

Polk County Public Schools was the winner of the Kennedy Center’s Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award recognizing school districts with outstanding arts education programs.

School Grades

Florida's School Accountability system uses FCAT as the Primary instrument in measuring student achievement.
The school district received a grade of C in the 2010 – 2011 school year.
More than half of Polk schools, 53 percent, received either an A or B in the 2010 – 2011 FCAT reports.

Diversity

The student body is 43.9 percent white, 20.7 percent black, 30.2 percent Hispanic, 1.6 percent Asian, 0.5 percent American Indian or Alaskan Native, 3 percent two or more races and 0.1 percent native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. There are more than 10,600 students whose primary language is other than English.

Geography

Polk County, with more than 1,850 square miles, is larger that Rhode Island! It uses approximately 511 school buses. Buses transport 49,000 students traveling 41,667 miles daily.